America’s Hope For Recovery: Jesus Christ

I can no longer be consumed with the news; it’s fruitless and I firmly believe that America’s only hope for recovery is Jesus.

Does this put me further on Janet Napolitano’s “watch-list”?

Probably, but I don’t really care; I refuse to be “a closet Christian.”

I am not armed with anger or revenge toward any of our leaders – I am armed with the Truth of Jesus Christ which is mightier than anything in this world.

His Truth is mightier that the threats of DHS, the pandemic alarm of H1N1 and certainly mightier than our failing economy.

I have come to realize that America is not experiencing the consequences of an election but, rather, the consequences of living in a God-less, society. Until we humbly fall to our knees and repent, it ain’t gonna get any better.

Burned out from the happenings on Capital Hill, I willingly divert from the Drudge Report to today’s readings (Acts 9:1-29):

Saul, still breathing murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord,

went to the high priest and asked him

for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, that,

if he should find any men or women who belonged to the Way,

he might bring them back to Jerusalem in chains. 

On his journey, as he was nearing Damascus,

a light from the sky suddenly flashed around him. 

He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him,

"Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?"

He said, "Who are you, sir?" 

The reply came, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 

Now get up and go into the city and you will be told what you must do." 

The men who were traveling with him stood speechless,

for they heard the voice but could see no one.

Saul got up from the ground,

but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing;

so they led him by the hand and brought him to Damascus.

For three days he was unable to see, and he neither ate nor drank.

There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias,

and the Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias." 

He answered, "Here I am, Lord." 

The Lord said to him, "Get up and go to the street called Straight

and ask at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul.

He is there praying,

and in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias

come in and lay his hands on him,

that he may regain his sight."

But Ananias replied,

"Lord, I have heard from many sources about this man,

what evil things he has done to your holy ones in Jerusalem.

And here he has authority from the chief priests

to imprison all who call upon your name." 

But the Lord said to him,

"Go, for this man is a chosen instrument of mine

to carry my name before Gentiles, kings, and children of Israel,

and I will show him what he will have to suffer for my name." 

So Ananias went and entered the house;

laying his hands on him, he said,

"Saul, my brother, the Lord has sent me, 

Jesus who appeared to you on the way by which you came,

that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." 

Immediately things like scales fell from his eyes

and he regained his sight. 

He got up and was baptized,
 and when he had eaten,
he recovered his strength.

He stayed some days with the disciples in Damascus,

and he began at once to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues,

that he is the Son of God.

***

Talk about a life-changing experience! In a flash of an eye, Paul was changed from a relentless persecutor of Christians to a relentless preacher of the gospel. Wow! While the story of Paul’s conversion is both dramatic and inspiring, the truth is that every conversion is a miracle and that there is hope for everyone.

Jesus told Nicodemus “that everyone needs to be born again.” Simply put, there must come a time when we can say:

“I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. I accept His forgiveness of my sins, and I want to live my life for Him.”

Although our Lord never forces Himself on anyone, He loves us deeply and wants all of His children to come to a close, personal relationship with Him and with his Son – yes, even those who are turning our America “upside down.”

America, don’t waste another moment; turn to Him who can create the true change in our lives.

***

Thank you, Jesus, for being my Lord and Savior. I humbly beseech you to lay Your hand upon our nation’s leaders and our America now so that any scales of darkness and sin may fall from her eyes. Fill us with the light of Your Truth, for the sake of our children and those not yet born.

###

The following video, Mighty To Save, courtesy of You Tube.